Invincible follows the story of Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), a half-alien teenager with superpowers who fights for justice as a superhero while also dealing with the typical obstacles faced by many teenagers. Episode 4 of Invincible season 2 explores the following themes: atonement, morality, and perseverance. The episode is heavy on gore and action but retains the complex emotional journeys of the characters.
The main plot is centered around Mark (Steven Yeun) as he helps to protect a planet of insect-like aliens and is forced to reconsider if his pacifistic way of thinking is sustainable. Eve (Gillian Jacobs) deals with personal problems related to her home life and also gets thrown into action when she’s confronted by a vengeful villain from season 1. Debbie (Sandra Oh) moves closer to a place of acceptance and ponders what the best way to move on from her past might be.
Mark is given the most screen time and rightfully so, as his story is the most entertaining from an action point of view. That isn’t to say that his storyline is missing emotion. It’s actually quite the opposite as the violence raises the stakes and tension of the series and forces Mark to make quick but significant decisions in order to stay on his feet. The strength of the primary plot comes at a cost as Eve’s story feels underdeveloped. She goes through a clear arc as the episode progresses but it doesn’t end up feeling satisfying because of how little screen time she has. Debbie’s arc in the episode feels more fulfilling in comparison but she’s also given more scenes to express her emotions while Eve’s story is much more heavy on action.
Steven Yeun shines in this episode as Mark is at the lowest point so far in this season. The desperation and anguish that the character feels is brought to life thanks to Yuen’s performance. The episode is able to reiterate why Mark is the main character of the show, and the viewer can’t help but root for him. Even so, it is a shame that Mark’s storyline comes at the cost of having the emotions of other characters, namely Eve, fully explored.
Rating: 8/10